Mariah Carey Returns to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest

Mariah Carey marked the start of the new year with a high-profile return to Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest, reclaiming her place on one of American television’s most watched stages.

The singer appeared as part of the ABC broadcast welcoming 2026, a notable comeback nearly a decade after her widely discussed 2017 performance on the same show. This time, Carey’s return was framed as deliberate and assured, drawing attention for its symbolism as much as the performance itself.

Maria Carey- Instagram

While the annual programme is anchored in New York’s Times Square and hosted by Ryan Seacrest, Carey delivered her set from Las Vegas, joining a multi-city lineup that also featured Demi Lovato, 50 Cent, Chappell Roan and other major acts. Her inclusion stood out, signalling both a renewed presence on the broadcast and a recalibrated relationship with the event.

Coverage following the show highlighted Carey’s appearance as one of the night’s most talked-about segments, particularly given her long history with televised New Year celebrations and her enduring association with seasonal pop culture.

Maria Carey- Instagram

By stepping back onto the Rockin’ Eve stage, Mariah Carey closed a long-referenced chapter in live television lore and opened the year with a return that felt intentional, measured, and unmistakably hers.